Cooperative power management

ABSTRACT

Embodiments are generally directed to managing power consumption of powered devices. In some embodiments, the powered devices draw power from a common source of power, which is limited. Under certain circumstances, exceeding the power limits can cause interruption of power to one or more of the devices, thus introducing a source of communication failures. To ensure reliable communications, an attempt to increase a power consumption of a first powered device in a power group is first reviewed to determine if the increase will cause a supplied power of the group to exceed a maximum power of the group. If the increase will cause the maximum power to be exceeded, the increase is modified, in some circumstances, to fit within the maximum power level. Alternatively, power consumption of a lower priority device is reduced to accommodate the requested power consumption increase.

FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to power management. In particular,some embodiments relate to power management in network devices.

BACKGROUND

Internet of Things (IoT) devices and wireless access points (APs) arecommonly connected to ports of backhaul devices such as ports of acomputer network switch. In addition to providing data connectionto/from the IoT device or/and AP and facilitating communication from/toan AP to/from the wired LAN/WAN, the switch port also supplies power tothe AP.

There are several common techniques for providing power over Ethernet(PoE) cabling. Three such techniques have been standardized by IEEE802.3. These standards are known as Alternative A, Alternative B, and4PPoE. The standard defines powered devices (PD) as devices that consumepower over the Ethernet connection. Examples of powered devices includeIP phones, access points (APs), IP cameras, or IoT devices. The standardalso defines power sourcing equipment (PSE). Examples of devicesconforming to the PSE requirements include IP switches, or a PoEinjector (AKA mid-span devices).

In addition to supplying power over Ethernet (PoE) on IP networks, the802.3af standard also provides a means for communication between a PDand a PSE. Specifically, the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) is alayer-2 Ethernet protocol for managing devices. LLDP allows an exchangeof information between a PSE and a PD. This information is formatted inType-length-value (TLV) format. PoE standards define TLV structures usedby PSEs and PDs to signal and negotiate available power.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The embodiments herein are better understood by referring to thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich like reference numerals indicate identically or functionallysimilar elements, of which:

FIG. 1 shows an example system that is implemented in one or more of thedisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example access point.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example network management system (NMS).

FIG. 4 illustrates an example node server.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example client device.

FIG. 6 shows an example network topology that includes network devicesattached to ports of a switch (four ports are shown).

FIG. 7 illustrates a system configuration table implemented in one ormore example embodiments.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative example of an example table used in someembodiments for determining the priority associated with each AP.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method for managing transmissionpower of a radio included in a power group.

FIG. 10A is a flowchart of an example method for allocating power topowered devices within a power group.

FIG. 10B is a flowchart of an example method for allocating power amongpowered devices of a power group.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example method for managing powerconsumption of a radio included in a power group.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example method for managing powerconsumption of a device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In conventional implementations, transmission power of AP radios arestatically configured. The transmission power is configured, in somecircumstances, during initial provisioning of a wireless network. Thetransmission power is, in some embodiments, set to a level below amaximum possible power. This reduction in transmission power can assistin reducing interference that might otherwise occur between accesspoints. For example, some access points positioned within a proximity ofeach other share wireless channels. This is true, for example, in Wi-Fiintensive environments where all or most available Wi-Fi channels are inuse. In some cases, it can be desirable to reduce or eliminate astrength of a wireless signal beyond a particular perimeter. Forexample, a corporate wireless network is configured, in some cases, suchthat a signal of a corporate Wi-Fi network does not propagate beyond aboundary of a campus of the corporation.

Some implementations dynamically adjust transmission power levels ofradios within a wireless network. Some of these implementations includea radio resource manager (RRM) that adjusts transmission power of theradios in a wireless system as to optimize operation of the system;e.g., to optimize the system level experience (SLE) experienced by acommunity of the users.

In some embodiments, a transmission power of a particular access point(e.g. a specific radio) is increased to improve reception by a specificuser equipment (UE) device, such as a wireless terminal (WT). In someembodiments, a transmission power of an AP is reduced to reduce cochannel interference. The resulting reduction in co channelinterference, in some circumstances, results in a reduction in an errorrate experienced on the channel.

Some of the disclosed embodiments operate in an environment in which aplurality of wireless network devices, such as access points, sharepower from a common power source, such as a power sourcing equipment(PSE) of the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard. These devices thatshare the source of power are referred to as a power group.

An increase in transmission power of a first PD potentially increases anamount of power the first PD draws from the PSE. Because of this sharedsource of power, this increase competes for a finite amount of powerprovided by the PSE to the devices in the power group. In some PSEimplementations, exceeding a maximum power that the PSE can provideresults in the PSE invoking an overpower exception mechanism whichresults in a power shutdown on one or more ports of the PSE. This ofcourse can cause one or more of the wireless devices drawing power fromthe PSE to lose power and therefore wireless functionality. To avoidexceeding a power limit of the PSE, the disclosed embodiments managewireless devices in a power group such that a total amount of powerdrawn by the wireless devices in the power group does not exceed thepower limit of the PSE.

Some embodiments provide for a power group controller that tracks powerconsumption of each PD included in a power group, and manages thecollective power consumption of the power group so as to not exceed apower limit of the PSE. In some embodiments, the power group controllerqueries the PSE to determine its power limit and/or a current powerlevel being supplied.

Switch ports are limited in an amount of power that each switch canprovide. Thus, even if one port is consuming less power than a maximumpower that a PSE can provide, power over the port can be limited by theport itself. Thus, a PSE includes two power limits in some embodiments.A first power limit is an amount of power the PSE can provide in totalacross all ports. A second power limit is an amount of power that can bedelivered over a single port. Thus, some of the disclosed embodimentsmanage one or more of these power limits (e.g. a PSE total power limitacross all ports and/or a PSE port power limit).

In addition to managing power consumed by devices connected to a switch,or devices connected to a single port of the switch, some embodimentsprovide for management of power across a switch port group. In theseembodiments, a group of devices connected to multiple ports of a switchare configured to share power across the multiple ports, with themultiple ports not including all ports of the switch. Some of thedisclosed embodiments manage a group of PDs with such a switch portgroup. Thus, the disclosed embodiments contemplate power management inconsideration of at least three power constraints. Those powerconstraints are those of an individual switch port, a switch port groupof a PSE, or of an entire PSE.

Thus, some embodiments contemplate switches that provide forconfiguration of a switch port group. The switch port group is definedto include a subset of all ports on the switch. The configuration alsoprovides for an allocation of an absolute level or power, or apercentage of total available power to the switch port group. Suchswitches then expose an API that allows wireless network managementdevices, such as a remote resource manager discussed herein, to queryinformation relating to said switch port group, and manage powerconsumption of devices under management to comply with parametersassociated with the switch port group.

To manage power consumption of a power group when a power consumptiondemand of the group exceeds a power limit, the disclosed embodimentsprioritize devices consuming power within the power group. Devices arethen allocated power according to their priority. In some embodiments,the prioritized are based on a prioritization of traffic communicated byeach of the devices. In some embodiments, the prioritization of trafficis based on quality of service (QoS) characteristics of the traffic.Thus, in these embodiments, a PD device passing traffic having a higherQoS requirement receives power at a higher priority than a PD devicepassing traffic having a relatively power QoS requirement.

Some embodiments provide for configuration of a power managementcontroller. For example, the configuration informs the power managementcontroller of one or more power limits of a switch port, a switch group,or a PSE as a whole. The configuration also informs the power managementcontroller of devices included in one or more power groups. In someembodiments, configuration of the power management controller mirrors aphysical configuration of PD devices with respect to a switch and/orPSE. Thus, for example, if two switch ports are physically configured toprovide a shared source of power, the power management controller isconfigured, in some embodiments, to manage devices connected via thoseswitch ports so as to not exceed the shared power capacity of the twoswitch ports. Thus, in at least some of these embodiments, the powermanagement controller is not in communication with the switch, butinstead operates independently to ensure PD devices in a power group donot exceed one or more power limits of the switch configuration. Someother embodiments provide for communication between the power managementcontroller and a PSE or switch. This electronic communication allows thepower management controller to obtain information from the switch and/orPSE regarding current power levels being provided to devices connectedto the switch and/or PSE (e.g. on a per port and/or per PSE basis), andalso information regarding limits relating to either ports and/or thePSE as a whole. By exchanging this information electronically, areduction in manual configuration of the power management controller isobtained relative to those implementations that do not provide for anexchange of information between the switch/PSE and the power managementcontroller.

FIG. 1 shows an example system 100 that is implemented in one or more ofthe disclosed embodiments. The example system 100 includes a pluralityof access points (AP1 142, . . . , AP X 144, AP 1′ 150, . . . , AP X′152), a plurality of Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA)servers (only one AA server 110 is shown), a plurality of Dynamic HostConfiguration Protocol (DHCP) servers (only one DHCP server 116 isshown), a plurality of Domain Name System (DNS) severs (only one DNSserver 122 is shown), a plurality of Web servers (only one Web server128 is shown), and a network management system (NMS) 136, e.g., powermanagement coordination, which are coupled together via network 134,e.g., the Internet and/or an enterprise intranet. Network communicationslinks (137, 143, 145, 151, 153) couple the access points (AP1 142, AP X144, AP 1′ 150, AP X′ 152), respectively, to network 134. Networkcommunications link 111 couples the AA servers (only AA server 110 isshown) to network 134. Network communications link 117 couples the DHCPservers (only one DHCP server 116 is shown) to network 134. Networkcommunications link 123 couples the DNS servers (only one DNS server 122is shown) to network 134. Network communications link 129 couples theWeb servers (only one Web server 128 is shown) to network 134. Networklinks 143, 145, 151, and 153 connect APs 142, 144 and APs 150, 152 torespective ports on switches 180 (only one switch is shown in thefigure). In some embodiments, the ports of switch 180 provide IPconnectivity to the APs 142, 144 and APs 150, 152 as well as provide theAPs with operational power using PoE. The system 100 further includes aplurality of clients or user equipment devices (UE 1 138, . . . , UE Z140, UE 1′ 146, . . . , UEZ′ 148. At least some of the UEs (138, 140,146, and 148) are wireless devices which may move throughout system 100.The network 134 also includes, in some embodiments, routers 185.

In system 100, sets of access points are located at different customerpremise site(s). Customer premise site 1 102, e.g., a mall, includesaccess points (AP 1 142, . . . , AP X 144). Customer premise site 2 104,e.g., a stadium, includes access points (AP 1, 150, . . . , AP X′ 152).As shown in FIG. 1 , UEs (UE 1 138, . . . , UE Z 140) are currentlylocated at customer premise site 1 102; UEs (UE 1′ 146, . . . , UE Z′148) are currently located at customer premise site 2 104.

The network management system (NMS), 136, includes the RRM module thatcontrols the transmission power of the various radios in the system. TheNMS also communicates with the switch (or any other power feeding edgedevice) to ensure that increasing the power requirements from any switchport by an AP would not trigger the power protection mechanism of theassociated switch. In some embodiments, the NMS includes a module thatensures that the configuration table properly reflects the right switchport to which the APs are actually connected. In accordance with yetanother specific embodiment, upon detection of system table beingmisconfigured, and specifically, not reflecting the right switch port towhich an AP is connected the NMS automatically suggests a correctiveaction to the IT technician, e.g., provides a proposal of how toreconfigure the switch. In some embodiments, the NMS automaticallyreconfigures the system configuration table to reflect the actual switchport to which the AP is connected and if indicated, configures the portof the switch to support the VPNs supported by the AP.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example access point 200 that is implemented inone or more of the disclosed embodiments. The access point 200represents, in some embodiments, one or more of the access points AP 1142, . . . , APX 144, AP 1′ 150, APX′ 152, of FIG. 1 . Access point 200includes wired interfaces 230, wireless interfaces 236, 242, a hardwareprocessor 206, e.g., a CPU, a memory 212, and an assembly of modules208, e.g., assembly of hardware module, e.g., assembly of circuits,coupled together via a bus 209 over which the various elements mayinterchange data and information. Wired interface 230 includes receiver232 and transmitter 234. The wired interface couples the access point200 to the network 134 (e.g. the Internet) of FIG. 1 , and providespower to the AP 200 using protocols such as PoE. First wirelessinterfaces 236 may support a Wi-Fi interface, e.g. IEEE 802.11interface, includes receiver 238 coupled to receive antenna 239, viawhich the access point may receive wireless signals from communicationsdevices, e.g., wireless terminals, and transmitter 240 coupled totransmit antenna 241 via which the access point may transmit wirelesssignals to communications devices, e.g., wireless terminals. Secondwireless interface 242 may support Bluetooth® interface which includesreceiver 244 coupled to receive antenna 245, via which the access pointmay receive wireless signals from communications devices, e.g., wirelessterminals, and transmitter 246 coupled to transmit antenna 247 via whichthe access point may transmit wireless signals to communicationsdevices, e.g., wireless terminals.

Memory 212 includes routines 214 and data/information 216. Routines 214include assembly of modules 218, e.g., an assembly of software modules,and an Application Programming Interface (API) 220. Data/information 216includes configuration information 222, radio transmission power 224 anda list of supported VPNs 226 for tagging messages from clientsassociated with the AP.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example network management system (NMS) 300. Insome embodiments, the NMS 300 is equivalent to the NMS 136. The exampleNMS 300 includes a module that detects configuration inconsistencies andin some embodiments, invokes remedial actions. NMS 300 includes acommunications interface 330, e.g., an Ethernet interface, a hardwareprocessor 306, an output device 308, e.g., display, printer, etc., aninput device 310, e.g., keyboard, keypad, touch screen, mouse, etc., amemory 312 and an assembly of modules 340, e.g., assembly of hardwaremodule, e.g., assembly of circuits, coupled together via a bus 309 overwhich the various elements may interchange data and information.Communications interface 330 couples the NMS 300 to a network and/or theInternet. Communications interface 330 includes a receiver 332 via whichthe network monitoring system can receive data and information, e.g.,including traffic profile parameters from the various APs, and atransmitter 334, via which the NMS 300 can send data and information,e.g., including configuration information, and confirm receipt ofinformation from other devices of the network.

Memory 312 includes routines 314 and data/information 317. Routines 314include assembly of modules 318, e.g., an assembly of software modulessuch as CVM, RRM routine 319 used for controlling the transmission powerof the various APs, and Application Programming Interface (API) 320.Data/information 317 includes configuration information 322, powerconsumption of each AP 323, switch port configuration reflecting theswitch ID and the specific switch port to which each AP is connected324, and a list of operational VPNs for each AP 325.

Memory 312 includes also traffic priority module 350. The trafficpriority module includes dynamic data about the types of data currentlytransmitted via each AP. For example, APs that carry VoIP or videotraffic that is susceptible to network errors are marked as carryinghigher priority traffic while TCP/IP data traffic is marked as lowerpriority traffic, in at least some embodiments. Similarly, in accordancewith yet another embodiment, the system tags the priority of each APbased on the QoS of the IP traffic through the said AP.

The traffic priority module 350 includes tables that indicate the numberof IP sessions (or data streams) via each AP and the correspondingpriority of each one of the corresponding IP streams/sessions.Specifically, the traffic priority module includes entries for highpriority media traffic 351, medium priority traffic 352, and lowpriority traffic 353.

When a RRM, in coordination with a switch determines that increasingtransmission power of a specific AP, and accordingly increase the powerrequirements from a specific switch port, the power coordination systemevaluates the overall priority of each AP within the same power groupand determines whether there is an AP that carries lower priorityinformation than the AP that the RRM wants to boost its transmissionpower. If such AP is found, the power coordination module 360 incoordination with the RRM issues a command to the AP which carries lowerpriority traffic to reduce its transmission power (and accordingly, toconsume less power from its respective switch port). Once the second APacknowledges that it reduced its power consumption, the RRM issues acommand to the first AP to increase its transmission power.

Though the description above describe methods to mitigate brownoutaffecting wireless APs, it can equally apply to mitigating brownouts forany other powered devices, such as IoT etc.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example node server 400, such as an AA server,DHCP server, DNS server, or Web server. In some embodiments, node server400 of FIG. 4 is one or more of server 110, 116, 122, 128, of FIG. 1 .Node server 400 includes a communications interface 402, e.g., anEthernet interface, a hardware processor 406, an output device 408,e.g., display, printer, etc., an input device 410, e.g., keyboard,keypad, touch screen, mouse, etc., a memory 412 and an assembly ofmodules 416, e.g., assembly of hardware module, e.g., assembly ofcircuits, coupled together via a bus 409 over which the various elementsmay interchange data and information. Communications interface 402couples the node server 400 to a network and/or the Internet.Communications interface 402 includes a receiver 420 via which the nodeserver can receive data and information, e.g., including operationrelated information, e.g., registration request, AA services, DHCPrequests, Simple Notification Service (SNS) look-ups, and Web pagerequests, and a transmitter 422, via which the node server 400 can senddata and information, e.g., including configuration information,authentication information, web page data, etc.

Memory 412 includes routines 428 and data/information 430. Routines 428include assembly of modules 432, e.g., an assembly of software modulesand data/information 430.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example client device such as UE 500 (e.g., userequipment UE 1 138, . . . , UE Z 140, UE 1′ 146, . . . , UE Z′ 148) inaccordance with some of the disclosed embodiments.

UE 500 includes wired interfaces 502, wireless interfaces 504, ahardware processor 506, e.g., a CPU, a memory 512, and an assembly ofmodules 516, e.g., assembly of hardware modules, e.g., assembly ofcircuits, coupled together via a bus 509 over which the various elementsmay interchange data and information. Wired interface 502 includesreceiver 520 and transmitter 522. The wired interface couples the UE 500to a network and/or the network 134 of FIG. 1 .

The wireless interface 504 can include cellular interface 524, firstwireless interface 526, e.g., IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi interface, and a secondwireless interface 527, e.g., Bluetooth® interface. The cellularinterface 524 includes a receiver 532 coupled to a receiver antenna 533via which the access point may receive wireless signals from accesspoints, e.g., AP 1 142, . . . , APX 144, AP 1′ 150, . . . , APX′ 152,and transmitter 534 coupled to a transmit antenna 535 via which theaccess point may transmit wireless signals to APs, e.g., AP 1 142, . . ., APX 144, AP 1′ 150, . . . , APX′ 152. First wireless interfaces 526may support a Wi-Fi interface, e.g. IEEE 802.11 interface, includesreceiver 536 coupled to receive antenna 537, via which the UE mayreceive wireless signals from communications devices, e.g., APs, andtransmitter 538 coupled to a transmit antenna 539 via which the UE maytransmit wireless signals to communications devices, e.g., APs. Thesecond wireless interface 527 may support Bluetooth® which includesreceiver 540 coupled to receive antenna 541, via which the UE mayreceive wireless signals from communications devices, e.g., APs, andtransmitter 542 coupled to a transmit antenna 543 via which the UE maytransmit wireless signals to communications devices, e.g., APs.

The example UE 500 also includes an electronic display 508 and an inputdevice 510.

Memory 512 includes routines 528 and data/information 517. Routines 528include assembly of modules 515, e.g., an assembly of software modules.Data/information 517 may include configuration information as well asany additional information required for normal operations of UE 500.

FIG. 6 shows an example network topology 600 that includes networkdevices attached to ports of a switch 610 (four ports are shown).Specifically, AP1 620 is connected to a port 612 of switch 610, AP2 630is connected via network link 631 to a port 614 of switch 610, IoT 640is connected via network link 641 to a port 616 of switch 610, and anIoT 645 is connected via a network link 646 to a port 618 of the switch610.

In addition to providing IP connectivity, links 621, 631, 641 and 646also provide power to the respective devices AP 620, AP 630, IoT 640 andIoT 645. As part of the system configuration, AP 620 and AP 630 aremembers of a common power group, power group 1 660. Power group 1 660 ismanaged by the RRM 654 and the power management module 652. In someembodiments, each of the devices AP 620, AP 630, IOT 640, and IOT 645are powered devices (PDs) within a power over Ethernet (PoE) standard.In some embodiments, the switch 610 is power sourcing equipment (PSE)within a power over Ethernet (PoE) standard.

In some embodiments, the RRM 654 determines that a SLE can be improvedby increasing the transmission power of an AP within the power group 660(e.g. AP 62). Before the RRM 654 instructs the AP to increase itstransmission power, the switch management module 656 verifies that powergroup 660 will not exceed a power limit of the switch 610 if thetransmission power is increased. If the switch management module 656determines (e.g. via communication with the switch 610 over link 611)that power group 660 has sufficient power margin (e.g. a differencebetween a currently supplied power level and a maximum power availableto the power group) to accommodate this increase, the switch managementmodule 656 communicates the information (e.g. via link 655, to the powermanagement module 652, and then via link 657 to the RRM 654). In someembodiments, the switch management module 656 conveys the informationdirectly to the RRM 654 without involvement of the power managementmodule 652. The RRM 654 then instructs the AP 620 to increase itstransmission power (e.g. via link 621A).

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the switch management module 656determines that power group 660 does not have sufficient power margin toaccommodate the increase of transmission power of AP 620. Informationindicating same is then provided to the RRM 654 (either directly or viathe power management module 652).

As explained below with reference to FIG. 8 , power is prioritized toeach of the devices included in a power group, such as the power group660. In some embodiments, the prioritization of each of the devices isbased on priorities of traffic or network messages passed (e.g. receivedand/or transmitted) by the respective device. In some embodiments, adevice priority is based on IP traffic parameters of traffic sent and/orreceived by the respective device. Some embodiments periodically updatethe device's priority based on recent traffic activity. For example, adevice may pass lower priority traffic during a first period of time andhigher priority traffic during a second period of time. Some of thedisclosed embodiments redetermine a priority of the device at aninterval such that the device's priority is adjusted to accommodate achange in traffic of this type.

In some embodiments, a device priority is based on configurationinformation. For example, some embodiments implement configurationinterfaces that allow an operator to set a device priority. Someembodiments determine a device priority based on both network trafficpassed by the device and configuration information indicating the devicepriority. Some embodiments blend at least these two data to determinethe device's priority that is then used to allocate power to the device.

To ensure the power group 660 does not exceed a power limit of theswitch 610, the RRM 654, in some embodiments, relates a first priorityof the AP 620 to a second priority of the AP 630. When the two devicesAP 620 and AP 630 compete for power available from the switch, someembodiments grant power to the higher priority device and restrict powerusage by the lower priority device as necessary to maintain a totalpower consumed by the two devices below a maximum power of the switch610 and/or the ports 612 and/or 614 and/or the power group 660. Someembodiments allocate power to devices in a power group in proportion totheir respective priorities. Thus, for example, in some embodiments, ifa first device has a priority twice that of a second device, twice asmuch power is available to the first device as the second device. Incircumstances where the first device is not fully utilizing power madeavailable to it by the priority scheme, the second device may consumethe available power until a time when that power is needed by the firstdevice.

To ensure consumption of a power group is properly limited, and devicesare allocated power in accordance with their respective priorities, someembodiments implement a control protocol between the RRM 654 and deviceswithin the power group. The control protocol allows the RRM toselectively increase and/or decrease a power consumption authorizationfor a particular device. Thus, the RRM 654, in some embodiments, firstinstructs a first device, via the control protocol, to decrease itspower utilization so as to provide available power to a second higherpriority device of the power group. In these embodiments, the RRM 654then second instructs the second higher priority device, via the controlprotocol, to increase its power utilization after the RRM 654 hasconfirmed that the first lower priority device has reduced its powerconsumption according to the first instruction. Before instructing thefirst lower priority device to reduce its power consumption, the RRM 654confirms, in some embodiments, that insufficient power margin existswithin the power group such that the second higher priority devicecannot increase its power consumption without exceeding a power limit ofthe power group.

In some other embodiments, if the first device and second device of thepower group are of equivalent priority, the RRM 654 may modify an amountof power increase available to the first device. For example, in someembodiments, a determination is made that the first device is toincrease its transmission power by a first amount, for example, toimprove a SLE with respect to one or more wireless terminals. The RRM654 then determines that a power margin available to the power group isless than the first amount. Thus, there are several methods to resolvethis incompatibility between the available power margin and the firstamount. In some embodiments, the request to increase the first device'spower by the first amount is rejected in view of the inadequate powermargin. In another embodiment, the second device is instructed todecrease its power consumption. This decrease can be targeted to bringthe second device's power consumption in accordance with the seconddevice's priority. Thus, in this scenario, the second device wasconsuming power at a rate higher than its priority would generallyallow. However, this higher consumption is permissible during periods ofavailable power margin within the power group as a whole. This decreasein the second device's power consumption increases the available powermargin, which, in some circumstances, becomes adequate to satisfy thefirst amount. Alternatively, after the second device has reduced itspower consumption, the RRM may modify an amount of the first device'stransmission power increase so as to fit within the power margin madeavailable by the second device's reduction. This new increase amount isthen communicated to the first device.

In some embodiments, one or more lower priority devices are requested toreduce their transmission power. This reduction in transmission power bythe lower priority devices increases the power margin. The increasedpower margin provides an ability, at least in some circumstances, forthe transmission power of AP1 620 to then be increased.

If a lower priority AP is detected, e.g., AP2, in some embodiments, theRRM 654 is notified. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the RRM 654manages multiple APs and independently determines the relativepriorities of the various APs and allocates the power to the APs toprovide satisfactory SLE. The RRM 654 then instructs, in someembodiments, the AP2 630 via link 631A to reduce its transmission power.Upon receiving an acknowledgement that the AP2 630 has reduced itstransmission power (and consequently reduced its power consumption), theRRM 654 instructs, in some embodiments, the AP1 620 over the link 621Ato increase its transmission power. An ability to increase saidtransmission power is due to an increased power margin resulting fromthe power relinquished by the AP2 630.

The description above details a specific example wherein AP2 630 reducesits power consumption sufficiently to accommodate the desired increasein power transmission of the AP1 620. In some alternative embodiments,the AP2 630 is instructed to reduce its power by less than an additionalpower required by the AP1 and as such either additional APs arerequested to reduce their transmission power or alternatively, the AP1is instructed to increase its power less than a full extent that the RRMalgorithm may suggest.

This described power management coordination ensures that a combinationof powered devices in a power group do not consume more power than isavailable to the power group. Said differently, in some embodiments, apower management coordination module ensures that a collective powerconsumption of all of devices belonging to the said power group do notexceed a power threshold, as exceeding said power threshold couldtrigger a power protection mechanism of the PSE edge device, e.g., theswitch 610.

In various embodiments, the communication between the switch 610, andthe network management system 650, and/or one or more of RRM 654, switchmanagement module 656, and power management module 652, utilizes LLDP(e.g., via links 621, 631, or via a dedicated communication link, e.g.,such as link 611). Furthermore, while the one or more functionsdiscussed above with respect to FIG. 6 are attributed to the RRM 654,switch management module 656, and the power management module 652, thesefunctions are performed, in various embodiments, by any component of thenetwork management system 650 and no limitations on these features beingperformed by the modules discussed above is implied.

FIG. 7 illustrates a system configuration table 700 implemented in oneor more example embodiments. Column 710 provides the ID of each one ofthe APs in the system. Column 715 provides the power group (within thecorresponding switch) to which the AP of column 710 belongs. Column 720provides an ID of a switch to which each AP is attached. Column 725stores a specific port to which each AP of column 710 is attached. Row751, row 752, row 753, row 754, row 755, row 756, row 757, row 758, androw 759 illustrate, for each specific AP, a switch and a specific switchport to which the AP is attached. Each of the rows also indicate aspecific power group to which the AP belongs. In some exampleembodiments, each row includes a list of VLANS supported on the specificswitch port identified in column 720.

FIG. 8 is an example table 800 that illustrates an example method ofdetermining the priority associated with each AP. Each of the rows851-859 of the table 800 are associated with a unique network device,such as an access point. Column 810 provides IDs of the APs As shown,row 851 defines parameter values for an AP having an identifier of“API.” Row 852 defines parameter values for an AP having an identifierof “AP2.” Each row also defines priority information for a respective APidentified by the row. Column 815, 820 and 825 each provide aquantification of traffic having a particular QoS classification, shownin table 800 in units equivalent to a number of packets or a data size(e.g. in bytes) within a time window. The three columns 815, 820, and825 represent high QoS (quality of service), medium QoS, and Low QoSdata respectively. In some embodiments, columns 815, 820, and 825indicate a number of packets having each of the respective QoSattributes. In other embodiments, columns 815, 820, and 825 indicate anamount of data (e.g. a number of bytes or number of packets) having eachof the respective QoS attributes.

Column 830 defines a number of VoIP media streams each radio or AP ishandling within the time window. In some embodiments, column 830represents a number of VoIP bytes passed by the respective AP orindividual AP radio during the time window. Column 835 provides a numberof video media streams handled by each AP or individual AP radio withinthe time window. Note that while Table 800 of FIG. 8 lists trafficparameters of multiple APs, some APs include multiple radios. Toaccurately characterize each radio of each AP, Table 800 includes a rowfor each radio of each AP. In some embodiments, column 835 defines anamount (e.g., bytes) of video data handled by each AP or individual APradio within the time window.

Some embodiments, determine, based on one or more of the valuesdescribed above with respect to columns 815, 820, 825, 830, or 835, apriority value. This priority value is illustrated in FIG. 8 by column840. In some embodiments, the priority of a particular value isdetermined based on Equation 1 below:Priority(t)=K1*QoS _(H) +K2*QoS _(M)+1K3*QoS _(L) +K4*N _(VoIP) +K5*N_(Video)  Eq 1.

-   -   where:        -   t defines a window of time where the determined priority is            applicable,        -   K1-K5 these are coefficients (constants),        -   QoS_(H) a number of IP packets with a high QoS            classification,        -   QoS_(M) a number of IP packets with medium QoS            classification,        -   QoS_(L) a number of IP packets with low QoS classification,        -   N_(VoIP) a number of IP VoIP media streams or bytes through            the AP,        -   N_(Video) a number of IP video media streams or bytes            processed by the AP.

In some embodiments, priority values are mapped into a simple mappedpriority which is provided in column 845. For example, priority valuessmaller than 100 are mapped to low priority “L”, priority values higherthan 400 are mapped to high priority “H”, and the other priority valuesare mapped to medium priority “M”.

In some embodiments, a threshold used in the mapping of priority valuesinto mapped priorities is dynamically adjusted. For example, someembodiments determine a range of priority values and then define thethreshold based on the range. For example, in some embodiments,thresholds are defined so as to delineate a highest third of the valuesbe mapped priority “H”, a lowest third of the values be mapped priority“L”, and the remaining priority values mapped to priority “M”.

While the example above illustrates operation of some embodiments withrespect to determining a priority of network devices, such as APs, otherembodiments utilize alternative algorithms for determining the relativepriorities of the APs. For example, some embodiments utilize a machinelearning model or other artificial intelligence techniques to determinedevice priorities.

FIG. 8 describes categorizing priority values into three categories,low, medium, and high. In other embodiments, column 840 represents aweight that is used to allocate power to the devices represented by thetable 800. For example, some embodiments allocate power to each of thedevices in proportion to the weight determined with respect to column840. Thus, for example, some embodiments power is allocated to eachdevice in proportion to the priority determined by Equation 1 above.

Some embodiments allocate power proportional to the priority of column840 of FIG. 8 and/or the priority of Equation 1, while also ensuring aminimum power is allocated to each device. Thus, in these embodiments, aminimum power is allocated to each device (which is device specific insome embodiments and constant for all devices in other embodiments), anda remaining power is then allocated in proportion to a priority asillustrated in column 840 of FIG. 8 and/or determined via Equation 1above.

Some embodiments allocate power to devices according to the priority ofcolumn 840 and/or Equation 1 above, but modify allocation from aproportional allocation as described above to an allocation that isbased on a function that generates a power allocation based on thepriority value. In some embodiments, the function is a logarithmicfunction or other non-linear function that generates a power allocationbased on the priority value, but in a non-linear manner, and thus notdirectly proportional to the determined priority value of Equation 1and/or the table 800 of FIG. 8 .

Some embodiments allocate power between multiple network devices (e.g.APs) based on Equation 2 below:AP _(j) power=Max AP _(j) Power−Σ_(i=1) ^(n) Wt _(i→j)(RSSI_(i→j)+(MaxAP _(i) Power−APi current Power))  Eq. 2

-   -   where:        -   AP_(j) Power Power setting for the j^(th) AP,        -   Max AP_(i) Power Maximum power setting for the i^(th) AP,        -   Max AP_(j) Power Maximum power of the radio of the j^(th)            AP,        -   n number of strong neighbors of the j^(th) AP, with strong            neighbors defined as a number of APs having signal strengths            at APj above a predefined threshold,        -   SS_(i→j) signal strength of signal(s)s received by AP_(j a)            as a result of transmission by AP_(i). and        -   Wt_(i→j)( ) defined by Equation 3 below.)            Wt _(i→j)(SS _(i→j))=(SS _(i→j)−Ave SS)/δ  Eq. 3    -   where:        -   SSI_(i→j) a signal strength measurement of a signal as            received from AP_(i) by AP_(j),        -   Ave SS average signal strength of a plurality of wireless            devices. In some embodiments, the plurality of wireless            devices is equivalent to a group of powered devices included            in a power group. In some embodiments, the plurality of            wireless devices is different from devices included in a            power group. For example, in some embodiments, the plurality            of wireless devices are wireless devices installed at a            particular location/site, or devices within a predefined            distance of each other.        -   δ standard deviation. In some embodiments, the standard            deviation is defined by Equation 5 below.

The average signal strength (Ave SS) described above is calculated, insome embodiments, via:Ave SS=(Σ_(All I & J combinations) SS _(i→j))/n  Eq. 4

-   -   where:        -   Ave SS average signal strength measurement of the plurality            of wireless devices discussed above,        -   n number of combinations of i and j resulting in signal            strength (e.g. RSSI) measurement greater than a            predetermined threshold

The standard deviation is calculated, in some embodiments, by:

$\begin{matrix}\left. {\delta = {\sqrt[2]{\left( \frac{1}{n - 1} \right)\left( {\sum\limits_{i}\left( {{SSi} - {AveSS}} \right)} \right.}**2}} \right) & {{Eq}.5}\end{matrix}$

-   -   where:        -   δ standard deviation,        -   SS_(i) the ith signal strength measurement (e.g. RSSI) from            the n measured signal strengths,        -   n number of combinations of i and j resulting in signal            strength measurement,        -   Ave SS average signal strength for the power group of APs            (e.g. calculated via equation 1 above).

While Equation 3 above uses the average signal strength, someembodiments utilize a median or other suitable measurement that canreduce the dependence on outlier values.

When evaluated for each powered device, Equation 2 defines power foreach powered device. In some embodiments, power allocations defined byEquation 2 provide a balance between ensuring high RSSI to wirelessterminals (e.g. wireless terminals served by and/or associated with APs,where the APs are included in the plurality of wireless devicesdiscussed above), while minimizing interference between signals comingfrom two or more of the plurality of wireless devices (e.g. APs).

Embodiments that determine power allocations according to Equation 1above, perform periodic re-determinations of power, at least in someembodiments. This re-determination provide for a dynamic powerallocation to wireless devices based on one or more characterizations oftheir communication traffic (e.g. as illustrated above with respect toFIG. 8 ). Other embodiments that utilize Equation 2 allocate power morestatically, with this allocation based on a physical topology of the APnetwork. For example, by considering RSSI strengths as described abovewith respect to FIG. 2 , power allocation is based, at least in part, onattenuation of signals exchanged between the various APs (e.g. which isgenerally a function of distances between the APs.

Further embodiments that utilize Equation 2 are described in greaterdetail with respect to FIGS. 10A-B and 12 below.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method 900 for managing transmissionpower of a radio included in a power group. In some embodiments, one ormore of the functions discussed below with respect to FIG. 9 and method900 are performed by the hardware processor 206, 306, 406, or 506. Insome embodiments, instructions (e.g. 214, 314, 428, 528) stored in amemory (e.g. 212, 312, 412, 512) configure the hardware processor toperform one or more of the functions discussed below.

After start operation 905, method 900 moves to operation 910. Inoperation 910, a request is received to approve an increase oftransmission power of a first radio. In some embodiments, the request isreceived from the RRM 654 discussed above with respect to FIG. 6 . Insome embodiments, the request is received by the power management module652. Method 900 continues to operation 912, which determines a powergroup to which the first radio belongs. For example, in someembodiments, operation 912 determines the power group based on a datastructure similar to table 700 discussed above with respect to FIG. 7 .

Method 900 continues to operation 914 which determines, based on themessage, an amount of additional power requested. In some embodiments,the amount of additional power is determined by decoding and/or parsingthe request. Method 900 then moves to operation 916, which determines anamount of power margin available in the power group of the first radio.In some embodiments, the power margin is determined according toEquation 3 below:Power Margin_(Group i)=Max power_(Group i)−Used power_(Group I)  Equ. 3

-   -   where:        -   Power Margin_(Group i) power available in power-group I            under existing operating conditions,        -   Max power_(Group i) Maximum power that can be collectively            consumed by radios in power-group I,        -   Used power_(Group i) power currently consumed by radios in            power-group i.

Method 900 continues to decision operation 920, which determines whetherthe power margin of the identified power group is sufficient toaccommodate the requested power increase of operation 910. If the powermargin is adequate, method 900 moves from decision operation 920 tooperation 922, which approves the request. Approving the requested powerincrease in decision operation 920 includes, in some embodiments,sending a message approving the request to increase the transmissionpower of the first radio. For example, in some embodiments, the messageis sent from the power management module 652 to the RRM 654. Afterdecision operation 920, method 900 moves to end operation 940.

If decision operation 920 determines that there is not sufficient powermargin available to satisfy the request, method 900 moves from decisionoperation 920 to operation 924, which determines priorities associatedwith a plurality of radios included in the power group.

In some embodiments, identities of the radios associated with the samepower group as the first radio are determined using a data structuresuch as the one described in FIG. 7 . In some embodiments, priorities ofeach of the radios is determined, in at least some embodiments, based onEquation 1 in association with the data structure described in FIG. 8 .

Method 900 then moves to decision operation 926, which determineswhether radios of lower priority than the first radio have beenidentified. If lower priority radios have been identified, method 900moves to operation 928, which sends a request to reduce the power of aradio (or radios) that has (have) lower priority than the first saidfirst radio. In some embodiments, the request includes an amount ofpower reduction needed in order to satisfy the request.

If decision operation 926 determines that there is no radios in thepower group that has lower priority than the first said radio, theprocess proceeds to decision operation 930 where the operationdetermines whether there is any available power to accommodate partiallythe RRM request to increase the power of the first radio.

If decision operation 930 determines that the power margin for thispower group is greater than zero (however smaller than the requestedamount), method 900 moves to operation 932, where a message granting apartial power increase to the first radio is transmitted. In someembodiments, this message is transmitted by the power management module652 to the RRM 654. In these embodiments, the RRM 654 then increases thetransmission power of the first radio up to the power margin of thepower group, for example, as described by Equation 3. In someembodiments, the RRM 654 increases the transmission power of the firstradio by sending a message instructing said increase to a deviceincluding the first radio (e.g. an access point). In some embodiments,the message indicates the power margin of the power group.

If decision operation 930 determines that the power group does notinclude any power margin is operating at maximum allowed power, method900 moves to operation 934, which rejects the request. Rejecting therequest includes, in some embodiments, transmitting a message (e.g. fromthe power management module 652 to the RRM 654) indicating the requestis rejected. In some embodiments, the transmitted message indicates thepower margin of the power group.

In some embodiments, when a request for a power increase is denied, oronly partially fulfilled, an alert is generated indicating same. Forexample, a text message, email message, or other alerting technology isutilized to alert support staff to the failure to provide the requestedpower increase. In some circumstances, the support staff reconfiguresone or more power groups in response to the alert, so as to provide anincrease in power margin available to the first radio and/or otherradios.

FIG. 10A is a flowchart of an example method for allocating power. Insome embodiments, one or more of the functions discussed below withrespect to FIG. 10A and the method 1000 a are performed by the hardwareprocessor 206, 306, 406, or 506. In some embodiments, instructions (e.g.214, 314, 428, 528) stored in a memory (e.g. 212, 312, 412, 512)configure the hardware processor to perform one or more of the functionsdiscussed below. Method 1000 a of FIG. 10A is utilized by embodimentsthat seek to optimize SLE and/or performance of a wireless network in anenvironment wherein there may not be sufficient power to provide optimalnetwork performance. Thus, for example, in these embodiments, as long aspower required by devices in a power group is less than power available,devices are allowed to consume power as needed. However, when some powergroups require more power than the available power for that group,method 1000 a contemplates that when operating in such an environment,the wireless devices are allocated power that ensures acceptable SLEwhile without violating a constraint imposed by a total amount ofavailable power.

After start operation 1005, method 1000 a moves to operation 1010, whichdetermines a power allocation for a power group of powered devices.

Some embodiments of operation 1010 seek to tune a power available toeach of a plurality of wireless devices such that an overall servicelevel experience (SLE) is maximized across wireless terminals served bythe plurality of wireless devices. For example, in some embodiments, oneor more wireless terminals associated with a particular wireless accesspoint are experiencing a relatively high number of dropped calls orother data abnormalities. By increasing a transmission power of thewireless access point, an SLE of those wireless terminals is improved,at least in some embodiments. Thus, in some embodiments, operation 1010determines a power allocation to a particular powered device in thepower group based on one or of a number of wireless terminals served bythe powered device, error metrics associated with those wirelessterminals, or any of the parameters discussed above with respect to FIG.8 .

In some embodiments, operation 1010 utilizes Equation 2, discussedabove, to determine the power allocation for each of the powereddevices. It should be noted that Equation 2 determines a powerallocation for powered devices included in a particular power group. Forexample, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 , each of site 1 102or site 2 104 each include a plurality of APs. In some embodiments, APsincluded at site 1 102 are included in a first power group, and a secondplurality of APs at site 2 104 are included in a second power group.Other embodiments of operation 1010 determine a power allocation of eachof the powered devices in the power group according to other methodsbesides Equation 2. For example, some embodiments of operation 1010determine power allocations of each of the devices include in the powergroup according to any of the techniques discussed above with respect toFIG. 8 .

Operation 1012 determines a total power allocation of the power groupbased on the allocations of operation 1010. In some embodiments,determining the total aggregates the individual device allocations ofoperation 1010.

Operation 1014 determines power available to the power group. In someembodiments, operation 1014 queries a power management module 652 or itsequivalent to determine the power available.

Decision operation 1020 determines whether the amount of the poweravailable to the power group is sufficient to facilitate the determinedpower consumption of the power group. If there is sufficient power tofacilitate the determined power consumption, method 1000 a moves fromdecision operation 1020 to operation 1035 where each of the powereddevices is notified of its allocated power.

If decision operation 1020 determines that there is not sufficient powerfor the determined allocation, method 1000 a moves from decisionoperation 1020 to operation 1025 where a reduced power allocation ismade. (One embodiment of determining a reduced power allocation isdescribed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 10B below.) Method1000 a then moves from operation 1025 to operation 1035 where thepowered devices in the power group are notified of their powerallocation determined in operation 1025.

After operation 1035 completes, method 1000 a moves to end operation1040.

FIG. 10B is a flowchart of an example method for allocating power amongcompeting powered devices when the power they require for operationexceeds the available power for their power group. In some embodiments,one or more of the functions discussed below with respect to FIG. 10Band the method 1000 b are performed by the hardware processor 206, 306,406, or 506. In some embodiments, instructions (e.g. 214, 314, 428, 528)stored in a memory (e.g. 212, 312, 412, 512) configure the hardwareprocessor to perform one or more of the functions discussed below.Method 1000 b of FIG. 10B is utilized by embodiments that seek tooptimize SLE and/or performance of a wireless network in an environmentwherein there may not be sufficient power to provide optimal networkperformance. Thus, when a power group requires more power than theavailable power for that power group, method 1000 b allocates theavailable power while attempting to provide a best possible system levelexperience or a best possible network performance.

After start operation 1055, method 1000 b moves to operation 1060 whichdetermines, for each powered device in the power group, the minimaloperational power the powered device requires. Operation 1062 determinesa total minimum power required by the power group. Operation 1064determines a total power available for the power group from a powersourcing device.

Decision operation 1070 evaluates whether the power group can besupplied with the minimal power it needs to operate based on the poweravailable. If the power sourcing equipment cannot supply the aggregatedminimum amount of power, method 1000 b moves to operation 1072 where alowest priority device is identified and that lowest priority device(that still has power allocated to it) is depowered, or in other words,no power is allocated to it. Processing then returns to operation 1062,where a new aggregated minimum power for the power group is determined.

If enough power is available to supply the minimum aggregated power,method 1000 b moves from decision operation 1070 to operation 1074,which determines a residual power amount. In some embodiments, theresidual power amount is determined by Equation 4, shown below:Residual power=Available power−aggregated required power  Equ. 4

Operation 1076 then allocates the residual power amount to devicesincluded in the power group (not including any devices that weredepowered as part of operation 1072).

In some embodiments, residual power is allocated in operation 1076according to a priority of each of the remaining powered devices. Insome embodiments, power is allocated according to the priority such thatthe highest priority devices are given their full power allocation,until no residual power remains. In some cases, this results inrelatively low priority devices receiving no additional power beyondtheir minimal power requirements (determined by operation 1060 discussedabove). In some embodiments, the power allocated to each of theserelatively higher priority devices is allocated according to Equation 2,discussed above. In some other embodiments, the power allocated to eachof these relatively higher priority devices is allocated according toEquation 5, discussed below. If there is still any residual power leftto be allocated, operation 1076 steps down the priority list of powereddevices and allocates the power to the next device. The processcontinues until all of the residual power is allocated to the highestpriority devices.

In other embodiments, operation 1076 determines the relative prioritiesof the various powered devices byAP _(j) Prio=AP _(j) Power/(Σ_(i=1) ^(k) P _(i))  Equ. 5

-   -   where:        -   AP_(j) Prio priority of the j^(th) powered device in a power            group,        -   AP_(j) Power power required by the j^(th) powered device for            optimal operation,        -   Σ_(i=1) ^(k) P_(i) aggregated power of actively powered            devices in a power group that enable the devices to operate            optimally, and        -   k a number of actively powered devices where k is equal or            smaller than n, with n being a total number of powered            devices in a power group.

Once the priorities of each powered device, such as an AP, in a powergroup are determined (0<AP_(j) Prio<1), operation 1076 allocates theresidual power according to the relative priorities of the APs. Forexample, in some embodiments, each powered device is allocatedadditional power according to Equation 6 below:Additional power(j)=Residual power*AP _(j) Prio  Equ. 6

A total power allocated for the j^(th) powered device, such as an APj isgiven by:total power(j)=Min P(j)+Additional power(j)  Equ 7.

-   -   where:        -   total power (j) a total power allocated to an active powered            device j,        -   Min P(j) a minimum power required by a powered device j, and        -   Additional power(j) an additional power allocated from the            residual power to powered device j.

After operation 1076 completes, the method 1000 b moves to end operation1080.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example method to coordinate increase oftransmission power. In some embodiments, one or more of the functionsdiscussed below with respect to FIG. 11 and the method 1100 areperformed by the hardware processor 206, 306, 406, or 506. In someembodiments, instructions (e.g. 214, 314, 428, 528) stored in a memory(e.g. 212, 312, 412, 512) configure the hardware processor to performone or more of the functions discussed below.

Method 1100 begins at start operation 1105 and then moves to operation1110 where a need to increase the transmission power of a specific radiois identified. A specific amount of the increase is also determined inoperation 1110. In some embodiments, the identification is in responseto identifying that increasing the transmission power of the said radiowould increase the system level experience (SLE). This may result, forexample, in a determination that a received signal strength indicator(RSSI) of signals received from the first radio are below a predefinedthreshold or meet a predefined criterion. In some embodiments, the RRM654 makes this determination, and recognizes the need for thetransmission power increase.

In operation 1112, a request to increase the transmission (consumption)power of the first (identified) radio is transmitted. In someembodiments, the request is transmitted by the RRM 654 to the powermanagement module 652.

In operation 1114, a reply to the request is received. In someembodiments, the reply is received by the RRM 654. In some embodiments,the reply is generated and sent by the power management module 652.

Decision operation 1120 determines whether the request to increase thepower of the first radio by the requested amount has been approved. Ifthe request was approved, method 1100 moves from decision operation 1120to operation 1125, which instructs the first radio to increase itstransmission power by the power amount identified in operation 1110.

If the response message indicates that the request has not beenapproved, method 1100 moves from decision operation 1120 to decisionoperation 1130, which evaluates whether a lower priority radio (orradios) are available within the power group. If lower priority radio(s)are identified, method 1100 moves from decision operation 1130 tooperation 1135, which determines a specific amount of power reduction ofthe lower priority radio. In some embodiments, the specific amount ofpower reduction is based on one or more acceptability criterion forreducing the lower priority radio's power. For example, operation 1135determines, in some embodiments, whether the lower priority radio isalready operating at a minimum power level. The minimum power levelrepresents, in some embodiments, a minimum power level available toprovide high priority device functions.

Once the specific amount of power reduction is determined by operation1135, method 1100 moves from operation 1135 to 1136, which determines ifthe power reduction is greater than zero. If not, the method 1100 movesfrom decision operation 1136 to end operation 1150. If the determinedpower reduction is greater than zero, then the method 1100 moves fromdecision operation 1136 to operation 1137.

In operation 1137, power of the second radio is reduced. In someembodiments, a message is sent requesting approval to reduce the powerconsumption of the lower priority radio (radio 2). In some embodiments,the message is transmitted by the RRM 654 to the power management module652. In some embodiments, operation 1137 is not performed, and the lowerpriority radio (radio 2) is instructed to reduce its power level inaccordance with the reduction determined in operation 1135, without anyfurther request for approval of said reduction. After operation 1137,method 1100 moves to operation 1145, described below.

Returning to the discussion of decision operation 1130, if no lowerpriority radios are identified, the method 1100 moves from decisionoperation 1130 to decision operation 1140, which determines if the powermargin is greater than zero. As discussed above, the power margin is adifference between a supplied power level and a maximum power level thatthe power source (e.g. PSE) can deliver. If the power margin is zero,the method 1100 moves from decision operation 1140 to end operation1150. If the power margin is greater than zero, the method 1100 movesfrom decision operation 1140 to operation 1145, which instructions theradio to increase power by the available power. The method 1100 thenmoves from operation 1145 to end operation 1150.

As discussed above with respect to FIG. 9 and method 900, someembodiments generate an alert whenever a need for an increase intransmission power is identified, but cannot be granted, or can only bepartially granted. This alert can take the form, in various embodiments,in text message, email message, or other messaging technology. A supportstaff receiving the alert can, in some circumstances, reconfigure anorganization of devices into power groups so as to increase a poweravailable to one or more of the devices.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example method for managing powerconsumption of a device. In some embodiments, one or more of thefunctions discussed below with respect to method 1200 and FIG. 12 areperformed by hardware processing circuitry (e.g. hardware processor 206,306, 406, or 506). In some embodiments, instructions (e.g. 214, 314,428, 528) stored in a memory (e.g. 212, 312, 412, or 512) configure thehardware processing circuitry to perform one or more of the functionsdiscussed below with respect to FIG. 12 .

After start operation 1202, method 1200 moves to operation 1205. Inoperation 1205, a determination is made that a first powered device'spower requirements have changed. In some embodiments, the first powereddevice is an access point. For example, in some embodiments, method 1200determines that a received signal strength of signals generated by thefirst powered device are below a predefined strength threshold whenreceived at one or more other devices. In some embodiments, the one ormore other devices include one or more wireless terminals or stationsassociated with the first powered device and attempting to performwireless communications with the first powered device. In someembodiments, the one or more other devices include one or more accesspoints that monitor a signal strength of the first powered device. Insome embodiments, receive errors are experienced at one or more otherdevices that receive signals from the first powered device. Thesereceive errors result, in some embodiments, from an RSSI of signalsreceived from the first powered device are below the predefinedthreshold. Thus, a determination is made that a transmit power level ofthe first powered device is to be increased, which can result, in somecircumstances, to an increased RSSI level at these one or more otherdevices.

Some embodiments of operation 1205 determine a first amount of thechange in the power requirements of the first powered device. In someembodiments, the change in power consumption results from a plannedincrease in a transmission power of the first powered device.

Operation 1210 classifies data traffic communicated by the first powereddevice. In some embodiments, the data traffic is analyzed to determinehow many video streams and/or bytes of video data are communicated bythe first powered device within a predefined elapsed time period (e.g.one minute, two minutes, five minutes, or any elapsed time period). Theclassification is then based on this analysis. In some embodiments, thedata traffic is analyzed to determine how many voice over InternetProtocol (VoIP) streams and/or bytes of VoIP data are communicated bythe first powered device within a predefined elapsed time period, andthe data traffic is based on the analysis of VoIP traffic. In someembodiments, the data traffic is analyzed to determine a quality ofservice (QoS) classification of the data traffic communicated by thefirst powered device within a predefined elapsed time period, and theclassification is based on the quality of service of the data traffic.Some embodiments of operation 1210 classify the data traffic accordingto one or more of the analysis described above.

Operation 1215 determines a priority of the first PD based on theclassification and/or analysis of the data traffic performed byoperation 1210. In some embodiments, the priority is determined in asimilar manner to the priority determination described above withrespect to FIG. 8 . For example, in some embodiments, the priority isbased on Equation 1 and/or Equation 5 discussed above. While operations1210 and 1215 describe classification of data traffic and prioritizationof a single device, some embodiments of operations 1210 and 1215classify data traffic and prioritize multiple or a plurality of devices,such as access points or other network devices. Thisclassification/prioritization of multiple devices is performed such thatpower can be allocated among these multiple devices based on thedetermined classifications and/or priorities, as discussed below withrespect to operation 1220.

In operation 1220, power is allocated to the first PD based on the firstpriority. As discussed above, in some embodiments, power is allocated toa device in proportion to its determined priority. In other embodiments,a plurality of priorities of multiple devices are mapped to powerallocations that are based on the priorities, but are not necessarily aproportional allocation. For example, some embodiments utilize afunction that receives, as input, a priority, and provides, as output, apower allocation. The function may utilize a non-linear algorithm, suchas a logarithmic allocation algorithm, to allocate power based on adevice's priority. Some embodiments first allocate a minimum power levelto each of a plurality of devices, and then determine a remaining poweravailable based on a total supplied power level minus the minimum powerlevels allocated to each device. This “discretionary power” is thenallocated to each device according to the device's respective priority.This discretionary power is allocated proportionally to each devicebased on its priority in some embodiments. In some embodiments, thediscretionary power allocation is non-linear with respect to thepriority. In some embodiments, the discretionary power is allocatedaccording to priorities determined via Equation 1 and/or Equation 5above. Some embodiments of method 1200 incorporate the featuresdiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 10A and/or 10B, as long as thereis power available from a power source (e.g. consumed power is less thana maximum power that can be supplied by a power source (e.g. a PSE). Inthese embodiments, once the maximum power available to a power group isbeing supplied, competing requests for power are then allocated based onone of the priority based mechanisms described above. Thus, in someexamples, a device may experience a relatively substantial reduction inits authorization to consume power, if, for example, it has beenconsuming a relatively large amount of power to communicate a relativelylow priority set of traffic, and then later competition for that poweremerges.

In some embodiments of method 1200, a difference between a suppliedpower level and a maximum power level is determined. In someembodiments, both the supplied power level and the maximum power levelrelate to a particular power group, of which the first powered device isa member. For example, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 6 , someembodiments manage power consumption within a power group (e.g. powergroup 660), to ensure the devices within the power group do not exceed amaximum amount of power of the power group. Exceeding said maximum powercan cause, in some environments, a PSE to turn off power to one or moredevices within the power group to ensure the maximum power supplied doesnot exceed technical limits.

In some embodiments, the difference is then compared to the increase inthe power consumption of operation 1205. If the difference is greaterthan the increase, then the power consumption of the first powereddevice can be increased by the determined first amount.

In some embodiments, the supplied power level is obtained by queryingpower sourcing equipment. For example, in some embodiments, the networkmanagement system 136 queries a PSE, such as the switch 610 discussedabove with respect to FIG. 6 , to determine an amount of power consumedby devices connected to the PSE. In some embodiments, the query isspecific to a particular power group. (e.g. power consumed by the AP1620, AP2 630). The PSE provides a response to the query. The response isthen parsed or otherwise decoded to determine the supplied power level.In some embodiments, querying of the PSE is accomplished via the LinkLayer Discovery Protocol (LLDP).

If the difference is less than the increase, there is not sufficientpower margin between the maximum supplied power and the supplied powerlevel to support increasing the power by the determined first amount.Thus, in some embodiments, in order to increase the power margin betweenthe supplied power and the maximum supplied power, some embodiments ofoperation 1210 request a second powered device to reduce its powerconsumption. This request for the second powered device to reduce itspower consumption is in accordance with any priority determination ofthe second powered device, for example that is made in some embodimentsof operation 1215 (e.g. when the second powered device is included inthe multiple devices for which operation 1215 determines priorities).

Such a power consumption reduction by the second powered device willincrease the power margin, by reducing the supplied power level. Thesecond powered device and the first powered device are both included ina common power group. Thus, the first powered device and second powereddevice share, in some embodiments, a common power supply. If one ofthese devices reduces its power consumption, the unused power is madeavailable for use by the other devices. In some embodiments, whether arequest or instruction to the second powered device to decrease itstransmission power level is based on a first priority of the firstpowered device and a second priority of the second device. As discussedabove, in some embodiments, a device priority is determined based onnetwork traffic communicated by the device. For example, a quality ofservice of the traffic is used, in some embodiments, to determine apriority of the device passing the traffic. Thus, if, for example, thefirst powered device is higher priority than the second powered device,the second power device is instructed to reduce its transmit power levelso as to increase power margin and allow the first powered device, whichis higher priority, to increase its transmit power level. In contrast,if the second powered device is higher priority than the first powereddevice, an increase in the first powered device's transmit power levelis inhibited, at least in some embodiments, when the difference betweenthe supplied power level and the maximum power level does not supportsaid power increase.

In some embodiments, a second amount is determined based on thecomparison of the difference with the first amount. The second amount isequivalent to the difference in some embodiments. The determined amountof increase in power consumption is then reduced relative to the firstdetermined amount, but fits within the margin available between thesupplied power level and the maximum power level. The first powereddevice is then instructed, via the message to increase its transmissionpower according to the second determined amount.

In some embodiments, a determination is made that the second powereddevice is to increase its transmission power. As discussed above withrespect to FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, this decision is a result of anRSSI value of signals received from the second powered device that isbelow a predefined threshold or otherwise insufficient to provide robustdata communication between the second powered device and at least oneother device. Some embodiments make this determination based on the RSSImeeting one or more predefined criterion. However, if the priority ofthe second powered device is lower than any other devices sharing apower supply with the second powered device, and the amount of powermargin available between a supplied powered level and a maximum powerlevel is insufficient to support an increase in the second powereddevice

In operation 1225, a message is transmitted to the first powered devicebased on the difference determined in operation 1210. As discussedabove, the message is generated to instruct the first powered device toincrease a transmit power level. In some embodiments, the first powereddevice is instructed to increase a transmit power level according to thefirst amount. If sufficient power margin is not available to support thefirst amount, then in some embodiments, the first powered device isinstructed, via the message, to increase a transmit power levelaccording to the second amount.

Some embodiments of method 1200 include determining a third power deviceshould increase its power consumption. As discussed above, thisdetermination is based, at least in some embodiments, on a need toimprove SLE of a network system. For example, in some circumstances, anRSSI of the third powered device, as measured at a particular locationor particular fourth device with which the third powered device is incommunication is below a threshold necessary to ensure reliablecommunications: Thus, by increasing a transmission power of the thirdpowered device, the RSSI might also be improved, and communication alsoimproved. Increasing the transmission power increases a powerconsumption of the third powered device. To that end, a determination ismade as to which power group the third powered device is included. Insome cases, the third powered device is within the same power group asthe first powered device, discussed above. Alternatively, the thirdpower device is in a different, second power group. A second differenceis then determined between a supplied power level of the third powereddevice's power group, and a maximum supplied power level of the thirdpowered device's power group. As discussed above, this difference isreferred to as a power margin of the power group. If the power margin isinsufficient to support the power increase, the increase is inhibited inat least some circumstances. Inhibiting the power increase includesrejecting a request to increase the transmit power of the third powereddevice, at least in some embodiments. For example, as discussed abovewith respect to FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, the RRM 654 requests thepower increase from the power management module 652.

In some embodiments, the decision to inhibit the power increase of thethird powered device is based on a priority of the third powered devicerelative to one or more other powered devices included in the thirdpower device's power group. For example, if no lower priority devicesare included in the third power device's power group, and the powermargin is insufficient to support an increase to the third powereddevice's power consumption, the request to increase the power of thethird powered device is rejected or otherwise denied, thus inhibitingthe power increase. Some embodiments generate one or more alerts inresponse to the inhibiting. For example, the alerts can take the form,in various embodiments, of an email message, text message, or otheralert technology. By alerting support staff of the failure to provide anincrease in transmission power to the third powered device, steps aretaken, in at least some embodiments, to manually rectify the problem, atleast in some circumstances. For example, configuration of one or morepower groups is modified to provide more power to some devices, and thusalleviate the power shortage evidenced by the inhibiting.

After operation 1225 completes, method 1200 moves to end operation 1230.

In some embodiments the method may start by using the static method forallocating the available power to the powered devices in a power groupand then after some packet statistics are collected the system may startutilizing the dynamic method for power allocation as to improve theperformance of the network and thus improve the system level experienceof the users.

Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic ora number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules are tangibleentities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations andare configured or arranged in a certain manner. In an example, circuitsare arranged (e.g., internally or with respect to external entities suchas other circuits) in a specified manner as a module. In an example, thewhole or part of one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone,client or server computer system) or one or more hardware processors areconfigured by firmware or software (e.g., instructions, an applicationportion, or an application) as a module that operates to performspecified operations. In an example, the software may reside on amachine readable medium. In an example, the software, when executed bythe underlying hardware of the module, causes the hardware to performthe specified operations.

The techniques of various embodiments are implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., management entities, e.g.,a network monitoring node, routers, gateways, switches, access points,DHCP servers, DNS servers, AAA servers, user equipment devices, e.g.,wireless nodes such as mobile wireless terminals, base stations,communications networks, and communications systems. Various embodimentsare also directed to methods, e.g., method of controlling and/oroperating a communications device or devices, e.g., a network managementnode, an access point, wireless terminals (WT), user equipment (UEs),base stations, control nodes, DHCP nodes, DNS servers, AAA nodes,Mobility Management Entities (MMEs), networks, and/or communicationssystems. Various embodiments are also directed to non-transitorymachine, e.g., computer, readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, harddiscs, etc., which include machine readable instructions for controllinga machine to implement one or more steps of a method.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed are provided as example approaches. Based upondesign preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes are rearranged while remainingwithin the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and arenot meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

In various embodiments devices and nodes described herein areimplemented using one or more modules to perform the steps correspondingto one or more methods, for example, signal generation, transmitting,processing, analyzing, and/or receiving steps. Thus, in some embodimentsvarious features are implemented using modules. Such modules areimplemented, in at least some embodiments, using software, hardware or acombination of software and hardware. In some embodiments each module isimplemented as an individual circuit with the device or system includinga separate circuit for implementing the function corresponding to eachdescribed module. Many of the above described methods or method stepscan be implemented using machine executable instructions, such assoftware, included in a machine readable medium such as a memory device,e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to control a machine, e.g., general purposecomputer with or without additional hardware, to implement all orportions of the above described methods, e.g., in one or more nodes.Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to amachine-readable medium e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium,including machine executable instructions for causing a machine, e.g.,processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of the stepsof the above-described method(s). Some embodiments are directed to adevice including a processor configured to implement one, multiple orall of the operations of the disclosed embodiments.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., communications devices such as routers, switches,network attached servers, network management nodes, wireless terminals(UEs), and/or access nodes, are configured to perform the steps of themethods described as being performed by the devices. The configurationof the hardware processor is achieved, in at least some embodiments, byusing one or more modules, e.g., software modules, to control processorconfiguration and/or by including hardware in the processor, e.g.,hardware modules, to perform the recited steps and/or control processorconfiguration. Accordingly, some but not all embodiments are directed toa communications device, e.g., user equipment, with a processor whichincludes a module corresponding to each of the steps of the variousdescribed methods performed by the device in which the processor isincluded. In some but not all embodiments a communications deviceincludes a module corresponding to each of the steps of the variousdescribed methods performed by the device in which the processor isincluded. The modules are implemented, in at least some embodiments,purely in hardware, e.g., as circuits, or are implemented in some otherembodiments using software and/or hardware or a combination of softwareand hardware.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer, ormultiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations, e.g. one or more steps described above. Depending on theembodiment, the computer program product can, and sometimes does,include different code for each step to be performed. Thus, the computerprogram product may, and sometimes does, include code for eachindividual step of a method, e.g., a method of operating acommunications device, e.g., a network management node, an access point,a base station, a wireless terminal or node. In at least someembodiments, the code is in the form of machine, e.g., computer,executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium such as aRAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) or other type ofstorage device. In addition to being directed to a computer programproduct, some embodiments are directed to a processor configured toimplement one or more of the various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations of one or more methods described above. Accordingly, someembodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU, configured toimplement some or all of the steps of the methods described herein. Thehardware processor is for use in, e.g., a communications device or otherdevice described in the present application.

While described in the context of a communications system includingwired, optical, cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and BLE, at least some of themethods and apparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a widerange of communications systems including IP and non IP based, OFDM andnon-OFDM and/or non-cellular systems.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. The methods and apparatus, in variousembodiments, are used with IP based and non-IP, wired and wireless suchCDMA, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, BLE, optical and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which are used in at least some embodiments to providecommunications links between network attached or associated devices orother devices including receiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/orroutines, for implementing the methods.

Although the discussion above describes, in some instances, determininglocation of a wireless terminal in a two-dimensional space, the featuresdescribed above are applied, in at least some embodiments, equally tolocating a wireless terminal in a three-dimensional space. As such, in athree-dimensional space, rather than determining a location of a WT in aspecific cell or region, some of the disclosed embodiments determine alocation of a WT within a three-dimensional region when considering aplurality of three-dimensional regions.

Example 1 is a method, comprising: determining a first powered deviceand a second powered device share a power source; determining anincrease in power requirements of the first powered device; firstclassifying first data traffic communicated by the first powered device;determining a first priority of the first powered device based on thefirst classifying; second classifying second data traffic communicatedby the second powered device; determining a second priority of thesecond powered device based on the second classifying; comparing thefirst priority to the second priority; determining whether to increase apower allocation of the first powered device based on the increase inpower requirements and the comparing; and transmitting a message to thefirst powered device based on the determining of whether to increase thepower allocation.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includesdetermining a signal attenuation between the first powered device and aleast one other wireless device, wherein the first priority is based onthe signal attenuation.

In Example 3, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-2optionally include determining a minimum power requirement of the firstpowered device; determining a second minimum power requirement of thesecond powered device; determining a residual power available from apower source based on the first minimum power and the second minimumpower, wherein the determination whether to increase the powerallocation of the first powered device is further based on the residualpower available.

In Example 4, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-3optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a number of voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)streams communicated by the first powered device during a predefinedelapsed time period.

In Example 5, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-4optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a number of video streams communicated by the firstpowered device during a predefined elapsed time period.

In Example 6, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-5optionally include wherein the first priority is further based on anumber of neighboring devices of the first powered device with areceived signal strength above a predefined threshold.

In Example 7, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-6optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a quality of service classification of the firstdata traffic during a predefined elapsed time period.

In Example 8, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-7optionally include wherein the determination of whether to increase thepower allocation comprises: allocating power to the first powered deviceand second powered device in proportion to the first priority and secondpriority respectively; and second comparing the power allocated to thefirst powered device to the increase in power requirements, wherein thetransmitting of the message is based on the second comparing.

In Example 9, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-8optionally include wherein the determination of whether to increase thepower allocation comprises: allocating power to the first powered deviceand second powered device according to a non-linear response to thefirst priority and second priority respectively; and second comparingthe power allocated to the first powered device to the increase in powerrequirements, wherein the transmitting of the message is based on thesecond comparing.

In Example 10, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-9optionally include determining that an increase in transmission power ofa radio of the AP will improve a SLE, wherein the first powered deviceis an access point (AP) and the increase in power requirements resultsfrom the determination that an increase in transmission power of a radioof the AP.

In Example 11, the subject matter of Example 10 optionally includesdetermining a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of a signaltransmitted by the first powered device meets a criterion, wherein thedetermining that the increase in transmit power will improve the SLE isbased on the determining that the RSSI meets the criterion.

In Example 12, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-11optionally include determining a difference between a power levelsupplied by the power source and a maximum power level of the powersource; determining a first amount of the increase in power requirementsof the first powered device; and comparing the first amount to thedifference, wherein the determining of whether to increase the powerallocation is based on the comparing.

In Example 13, the subject matter of Example 12 optionally includesdetermining a second amount less than the first amount based on thecomparing, wherein the determining of whether to increase the powerallocation is based on the second amount.

In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 optionally includesdetermining the first amount exceeds the difference, wherein the secondamount is determined in response to the first amount exceeding thedifference.

In Example 15, the subject matter of Example 14 optionally includestransmitting a request to the second powered device to reduce powerconsumption below an allocated level, wherein the transmitting of therequest is in response to the difference.

In Example 16, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 12-15optionally include determining an increase in power requirements of thesecond powered device; determining, a second difference between a secondcurrent supplied power level and the maximum supplied power level; andinhibiting increasing a power consumption of the second powered devicebased on the second difference.

In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 16 optionally includesdetermining the second priority of the second powered device is lowerthan the first priority, wherein the inhibiting is based on thedetermining.

In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 17 optionally includesgenerating an alert indicating the inhibiting.

In Example 19, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-18optionally include querying the power source, the query requesting asupplied power level of the power source; receiving, from the powersource, a response to the query; decoding the response; and determining,based on the decoding, the supplied power level, wherein the determiningof the whether to increase the power allocation is based on the suppliedpower level.

In Example 20, the subject matter of Example 19 optionally includeswherein the query is transmitted to the power source via a Link LayerDiscovery Protocol (LLDP).

Example 21 is a non-transitory computer readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that when executed configure hardware processingcircuitry to perform operations comprising: determining a first powereddevice and a second powered device share a power source; determining anincrease in power requirements of the first powered device; firstclassifying first data traffic communicated by the first powered device;determining a first priority of the first powered device based on thefirst classifying; second classifying second data traffic communicatedby the second powered device; determining a second priority of thesecond powered device based on the second classifying; comparing thefirst priority to the second priority; determining whether to increase apower allocation of the first powered device based on the increase inpower requirements and the comparing; and transmitting a message to thefirst powered device based on the determining of whether to increase thepower allocation.

In Example 22, the subject matter of Example 21 optionally includes theoperations further comprising determining a signal attenuation betweenthe first powered device and a least one other wireless device, whereinthe first priority is based on the signal attenuation.

In Example 23, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-22optionally include the operations further comprising: determining aminimum power requirement of the first powered device; determining asecond minimum power requirement of the second powered device;determining a residual power available from a power source based on thefirst minimum power and the second minimum power, wherein thedetermination whether to increase the power allocation of the firstpowered device is further based on the residual power available.

In Example 24, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-23optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a number of voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)streams communicated by the first powered device during a predefinedelapsed time period.

In Example 25, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-24optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a number of video streams communicated by the firstpowered device during a predefined elapsed time period.

In Example 26, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-25optionally include wherein the first priority is further based on anumber of neighboring devices of the first powered device with areceived signal strength above a predefined threshold.

In Example 27, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-26optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a quality of service classification of the firstdata traffic during a predefined elapsed time period.

In Example 28, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-27optionally include wherein the determination of whether to increase thepower allocation comprises: allocating power to the first powered deviceand second powered device in proportion to the first priority and secondpriority respectively; and second comparing the power allocated to thefirst powered device to the increase in power requirements, wherein thetransmitting of the message is based on the second comparing.

In Example 29, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-28optionally include wherein the determination of whether to increase thepower allocation comprises: allocating power to the first powered deviceand second powered device according to a non-linear response to thefirst priority and second priority respectively; and second comparingthe power allocated to the first powered device to the increase in powerrequirements, wherein the transmitting of the message is based on thesecond comparing.

In Example 30, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-29optionally include the operations further comprising determining that anincrease in transmission power of a radio of the AP will improve a SLE,wherein the first powered device is an access point (AP) and theincrease in power requirements results from the determination that anincrease in transmission power of a radio of the AP.

In Example 31, the subject matter of Example 30 optionally includes theoperations further comprising determining a received signal strengthindication (RSSI) of a signal transmitted by the first powered devicemeets a criterion, wherein the determining that the increase in transmitpower will improve the SLE is based on the determining that the RSSImeets the criterion.

In Example 32, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-31optionally include the operations further comprising: determining adifference between a power level supplied by the power source and amaximum power level of the power source; determining a first amount ofthe increase in power requirements of the first powered device; andcomparing the first amount to the difference, wherein the determining ofwhether to increase the power allocation is based on the comparing.

In Example 33, the subject matter of Example 32 optionally includes theoperations further comprising determining a second amount less than thefirst amount based on the comparing, wherein the determining of whetherto increase the power allocation is based on the second amount.

In Example 34, the subject matter of Example 33 optionally includes theoperations further comprising determining the first amount exceeds thedifference, wherein the second amount is determined in response to thefirst amount exceeding the difference.

In Example 35, the subject matter of Example 34 optionally includes theoperations further comprising transmitting a request to the secondpowered device to reduce power consumption below an allocated level,wherein the transmitting of the request is in response to thedifference.

In Example 36, the subject matter of Example 35 optionally includes theoperations further comprising: determining an increase in powerrequirements of the second powered device; determining, a seconddifference between a second current supplied power level and the maximumsupplied power level; and inhibiting increasing a power consumption ofthe second powered device based on the second difference.

In Example 37, the subject matter of Example 36 optionally includes theoperations further comprising determining the second priority of thesecond powered device is lower than the first priority, wherein theinhibiting is based on the determining.

In Example 38, the subject matter of Example 37 optionally includes theoperations further comprising generating an alert indicating theinhibiting.

In Example 39, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 21-38optionally include the operations further comprising: querying the powersource, the query requesting a supplied power level of the power source;receiving, from the power source, a response to the query; decoding theresponse; and determining, based on the decoding, the supplied powerlevel, wherein the determining of the whether to increase the powerallocation is based on the supplied power level.

In Example 40, the subject matter of Example 39 optionally includeswherein the query is transmitted to the power source via a Link LayerDiscovery Protocol (LLDP).

Example 41 is a system, comprising: hardware processing circuitry; oneor more hardware memories comprising instructions that when executedconfigure the hardware processing circuitry to perform operationscomprising: determining a first powered device and a second powereddevice share a power source; determining an increase in powerrequirements of the first powered device; first classifying first datatraffic communicated by the first powered device; determining a firstpriority of the first powered device based on the first classifying;second classifying second data traffic communicated by the secondpowered device; determining a second priority of the second powereddevice based on the second classifying; comparing the first priority tothe second priority; determining whether to increase a power allocationof the first powered device based on the increase in power requirementsand the comparing; and transmitting a message to the first powereddevice based on the determining of whether to increase the powerallocation.

In Example 42, the subject matter of Example 41 optionally includes theoperations further comprising determining a signal attenuation betweenthe first powered device and a least one other wireless device, whereinthe first priority is based on the signal attenuation.

In Example 43, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-42optionally include the operations further comprising: determining aminimum power requirement of the first powered device; determining asecond minimum power requirement of the second powered device;determining a residual power available from a power source based on thefirst minimum power and the second minimum power, wherein thedetermination whether to increase the power allocation of the firstpowered device is further based on the residual power available.

In Example 44, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-43optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a number of voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)streams communicated by the first powered device during a predefinedelapsed time period.

In Example 45, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-44optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a number of video streams communicated by the firstpowered device during a predefined elapsed time period.

In Example 46, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-45optionally include wherein the first priority is further based on anumber of neighboring devices of the first powered device with areceived signal strength above a predefined threshold.

In Example 47, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-46optionally include wherein the first classifying of the first datatraffic is based on a quality of service classification of the firstdata traffic during a predefined elapsed time period.

In Example 48, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-47optionally include wherein the determination of whether to increase thepower allocation comprises: allocating power to the first powered deviceand second powered device in proportion to the first priority and secondpriority respectively; and second comparing the power allocated to thefirst powered device to the increase in power requirements, wherein thetransmitting of the message is based on the second comparing.

In Example 49, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-48optionally include wherein the determination of whether to increase thepower allocation comprises: allocating power to the first powered deviceand second powered device according to a non-linear response to thefirst priority and second priority respectively; and second comparingthe power allocated to the first powered device to the increase in powerrequirements, wherein the transmitting of the message is based on thesecond comparing.

In Example 50, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-49optionally include the operations further comprising determining that anincrease in transmission power of a radio of the AP will improve a SLE,wherein the first powered device is an access point (AP) and theincrease in power requirements results from the determination that anincrease in transmission power of a radio of the AP.

In Example 51, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 30-50optionally include the operations further comprising determining areceived signal strength indication (RSSI) of a signal transmitted bythe first powered device meets a criterion, wherein the determining thatthe increase in transmit power will improve the SLE is based on thedetermining that the RSSI meets the criterion.

In Example 52, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-51optionally include the operations further comprising: determining adifference between a power level supplied by the power source and amaximum power level of the power source; determining a first amount ofthe increase in power requirements of the first powered device; andcomparing the first amount to the difference, wherein the determining ofwhether to increase the power allocation is based on the comparing.

In Example 53, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 42-52optionally include the operations further comprising determining asecond amount less than the first amount based on the comparing, whereinthe determining of whether to increase the power allocation is based onthe second amount.

In Example 54, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 43-53optionally include the operations further comprising determining thefirst amount exceeds the difference, wherein the second amount isdetermined in response to the first amount exceeding the difference.

In Example 55, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 44-54optionally include the operations further comprising transmitting arequest to the second powered device to reduce power consumption belowan allocated level, wherein the transmitting of the request is inresponse to the difference.

In Example 56, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 45-55optionally include the operations further comprising: determining anincrease in power requirements of the second powered device;determining, a second difference between a second current supplied powerlevel and the maximum supplied power level; and inhibiting increasing apower consumption of the second powered device based on the seconddifference.

In Example 57, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 46-56optionally include the operations further comprising determining thesecond priority of the second powered device is lower than the firstpriority, wherein the inhibiting is based on the determining.

In Example 58, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 47-57optionally include the operations further comprising generating an alertindicating the inhibiting.

In Example 59, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 41-58optionally include the operations further comprising: querying the powersource, the query requesting a supplied power level of the power source;receiving, from the power source, a response to the query; decoding theresponse; and determining, based on the decoding, the supplied powerlevel, wherein the determining of the whether to increase the powerallocation is based on the supplied power level.

In Example 60, the subject matter of Example 59 optionally includeswherein the query is transmitted to the power source via a Link LayerDiscovery Protocol (LLDP).

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: determining a firstpowered device and a second powered device share a power source;determining an increase in power requirements of the first powereddevice; first classifying first data traffic communicated by the firstpowered device; determining a first priority of the first powered devicebased on the first classifying; second classifying second data trafficcommunicated by the second powered device; determining a second priorityof the second powered device based on the second classifying; comparingthe first priority to the second priority; determining whether toincrease a power allocation of the first powered device based on theincrease in power requirements and the comparing; and transmitting amessage to the first powered device based on the determining of whetherto increase the power allocation.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising determining a signal attenuation between the first powereddevice and a least one other wireless device, wherein the first priorityis based on the signal attenuation.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first classifying of the first data traffic is based on a number ofvoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) streams communicated by the firstpowered device during a predefined elapsed time period.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first classifying of the first data traffic isbased on a number of video streams communicated by the first powereddevice during a predefined elapsed time period.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein the first priority is further based on a number ofneighboring devices of the first powered device with a received signalstrength above a predefined threshold.
 6. A system, comprising: hardwareprocessing circuitry; and one or more hardware memories comprisinginstructions that when executed configure the hardware processingcircuitry to perform operations comprising: determining a first powereddevice and a second powered device share a power source; determining anincrease in power requirements of the first powered device; firstclassifying first data traffic communicated by the first powered device;determining a first priority of the first powered device based on thefirst classifying; second classifying second data traffic communicatedby the second powered device; determining a second priority of thesecond powered device based on the second classifying; comparing thefirst priority to the second priority; determining whether to increase apower allocation of the first powered device based on the increase inpower requirements and the comparing; and transmitting a message to thefirst powered device based on the determining of whether to increase thepower allocation.
 7. The system of claim 6, the operations furthercomprising determining a signal attenuation between the first powereddevice and a least one other wireless device, wherein the first priorityis based on the signal attenuation.
 8. The system of claim 6, theoperations further comprising: determining a minimum power requirementof the first powered device; determining a second minimum powerrequirement of the second powered device; and determining a residualpower available from a power source based on the first minimum power andthe second minimum power, wherein the determination whether to increasethe power allocation of the first powered device is further based on theresidual power available.
 9. The system of claim 6, wherein the firstclassifying of the first data traffic is based on a number of voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP) streams communicated by the first powereddevice during a predefined elapsed time period.
 10. The system of claim6, wherein the first classifying of the first data traffic is based on anumber of video streams communicated by the first powered device duringa predefined elapsed time period.
 11. The system of claim 6, wherein thefirst priority is further based on a number of neighboring devices ofthe first powered device with a received signal strength above apredefined threshold.
 12. The system of claim 6, wherein the firstclassifying of the first data traffic is based on a quality of serviceclassification of the first data traffic during a predefined elapsedtime period.
 13. The system of claim 6, wherein the determination ofwhether to increase the power allocation comprises: allocating power tothe first powered device and second powered device in proportion to thefirst priority and second priority respectively; and second comparingthe power allocated to the first powered device to the increase in powerrequirements, wherein the transmitting of the message is based on thesecond comparing.
 14. The system of claim 6, wherein the determinationof whether to increase the power allocation comprises: allocating powerto the first powered device and second powered device according to anon-linear response to the first priority and second priorityrespectively; and second comparing the power allocated to the firstpowered device to the increase in power requirements, wherein thetransmitting of the message is based on the second comparing.
 15. Thesystem of claim 6, the operations further comprising determining that anincrease in transmission power of a radio of the AP will improve a SLE,wherein the first powered device is an access point (AP) and theincrease in power requirements results from the determination that anincrease in transmission power of a radio of the AP.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, the operations further comprising determining a receivedsignal strength indication (RSSI) of a signal transmitted by the firstpowered device meets a criterion, wherein the determining that theincrease in transmit power will improve the SLE is based on thedetermining that the RSSI meets the criterion.
 17. The system of claim16, the operations further comprising: determining a difference betweena power level supplied by the power source and a maximum power level ofthe power source; determining a first amount of the increase in powerrequirements of the first powered device; and comparing the first amountto the difference, wherein the determining of whether to increase thepower allocation is based on the comparing.
 18. The system of claim 17,the operations further comprising determining a second amount less thanthe first amount based on the comparing, wherein the determining ofwhether to increase the power allocation is based on the second amount.19. The system of claim 18, the operations further comprisingdetermining the first amount exceeds the difference, wherein the secondamount is determined in response to the first amount exceeding thedifference.
 20. A non-transitory computer readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that when executed configure hardware processingcircuitry to perform operations comprising: determining a first powereddevice and a second powered device share a power source; determining anincrease in power requirements of the first powered device; firstclassifying first data traffic communicated by the first powered device;determining a first priority of the first powered device based on thefirst classifying; second classifying second data traffic communicatedby the second powered device; determining a second priority of thesecond powered device based on the second classifying; comparing thefirst priority to the second priority; determining whether to increase apower allocation of the first powered device based on the increase inpower requirements and the comparing; and transmitting a message to thefirst powered device based on the determining of whether to increase thepower allocation.